Carrot Varieties to Sustain You All Year

By choosing the right carrot varieties and making spring and summer sowings, you can eat fresh carrots year-round. You’ll be able to harvest carrots as you need them, let some overwinter in the ground and always have some in the refrigerator that are washed and ready to eat.

North American carrots are classified into five major categories, based on the shape of their roots. There is plenty of crossover between categories (for example, Nantes-Imperator types), but these general classifications are useful for choosing carrot varieties based on the type of soil in your garden and the season in which you plan to grow them.

Nantes: straight, cylindrical roots 5 to 7 inches long; sweet flavor and crisp texture; limited storage potential
Varieties: ‘Early Nantes’ (OP*), ‘Nelson’ (F1*), ‘Mokum’ (F1)
Season: spring to early summer, late summer to fall
Soil: loose, sandy soil or raised beds enriched with organic matter
Days to Maturity: 55 to 70 in spring, 60 to 75 in fall

Chantenay: conical roots with broad shoulders and rounded tips; rich, sweet flavor and good storage potential
Varieties: ‘Red Core Chantenay’ (OP), ‘Kuttiger’ (OP), ‘Kurota’ (OP)
Season: spring to early summer, midsummer to late fall
Soil: best varieties for clay soil, or any fertile loam
Days to Maturity: 55 to 70 in spring; 70 to 110 in fall

Imperator: long, tapered roots with stocky shoulders and strong tops; slightly fibrous texture; stores well
Varieties: ‘Yellowstone’ (OP), ‘Purple Haze’ (F1), ‘Sugarsnax’ (F1)
Season: spring to summer in cool climates, or summer to fall
Soil: requires deep, sandy loam
Days to Maturity: 55 to 100 in spring, 80 to 110 in fall